On the day of the session it was crazy – we weren’t sure we could even make it in time driving up from Lethbridge. But made it we did, and in spite of reports of possible rain we had beautiful evening light. The only major issue were the millions of biting and nasty mosquitos threatening our very lives. I joked with Wendy that she would have to spend hours photoshopping them off of our faces.

Between the travel time, and the time of night our kids were crazy monster children ready to pounce. Lola wouldn’t stand still and was constantly escaping and running down the paths yelling “RUNNNNNNNN” Noah was freaking out about ants on his shoes, and Joshy and Brigs were trying to behave but couldn’t sit still or resist trying to parent the other kids. It was a gong-show comedy playing out right in front of my photography blog icon friends! I could die! Wendy in spite of all the chaos was cool, collected and darling – all the time telling me how precious my children were and how perfectly we were dressed. I love her!

Seeing the images today brought tears to my eyes. These are the last family pics of our family in Alberta, they are treasures to me. I love and stand in awe of how Wendy was able to capture such beautiful shots of our family. We love each other and she was able to get that, despite all of the chaos. I can’t tell you how much I recommend the Blue Lily experience, they are the travelling vagabond photographers who just might be in your neck of the woods next. I have many more images I couldn’t share on here, but I love them all – the shots of my individual children are beautiful too. Come over and I’ll show you all the shots! Thank you Wendy + Tyler – we loved being “Blue Lily-fied” and can’t wait to do it again. XOXO - Daria, Nathan and family

You can catch up with the photography and travels of Wendy + Tyler (and their adorable insanely well behaved children) at Blue Lily Photography Blog here>>
Join in the Blue Lily family of the happily photographed on their Facebook page here>>

Enjoy some of our family shots here:

This week I’m heading out to the Island with my hubby and Lola in tow to seek out a home for rent. I’ve only visited Victoria once before, I don’t know anyone out there so it’s a bit scary, coupled with sheer exhilaration at the thought of such a big adventure.

If you walk around my house right now you’ll see little notes all over with two columns:

Great Things about moving to Victoria / Not So Great Things About Moving to Victoria

Missing our dear family and friends definitely lands on the right side of those lists (and right at the top). I’m not entirely sure how I’ll cope without a direct road to our parents homes within arms reach. We’ve been so blessed to be near our family the past 4 years, within an hour or so. Every few minutes my mood changes and you may catch me mid cry or mid laughter at the craziness of what we are doing.

Victoria BC is beautiful. An island surrounded by the ocean, beautiful beaches, lovely weather (goodbye Alberta winters), gardens, orchards, vineyards, whale watching, and a slower pace. My ultimate dream is to have a Palm Tree in my front yard…it’s gonna happen folks.

Hence this post is just to let all of you know that I’m here and have many things to share, however I’m not sure exactly when the posting will take place. I’ll post as I can over the next few weeks. Lots of Market Videos still to share and giveaways to well…giveaway!

XO - Daria

***Giveaway!!

PLUS we have an Amazing GIVEAWAY from Becky Higgins – she is offering a Boutique Cafe viewer a “Project Life” Kit of their choice!! Drawing takes place on Valentine’s Day at midnight (Feb. 14th, 2011).

Here’s how to enter. You may do as many as these as you like. Each counts as one entry into the giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: February 2, 2011 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

** Click button below to view video coverage, or view it on our YouTube channel right here>>

Our four boys have been dotting on her and loving her up so much. They are over the moon to have a sister of their very own. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support through my pregnancy, many of you got me through these months and I’ll never forget it. I hope to be back to Boutique Cafe very shortly, but in the meantime I’m wrapped up in Lola and enjoying each moment of her first few days. I’ll share a link to see more and more pics of our Lola, I’ll be adding more so feel welcome to stop by and gush with me over her.

With love and thanks,
Daria, Nathan
The boys & Lola Olivia

Lola Olivia on Flickr>>

CANADA—November 30, 2009— From the very beginning Boutique Café’s passion has been supporting mom entrepreneurs (“mompreneurs”) and women in business. For over five years the website’s podcast interviews, fashion show spotlights, product reviews and various forms of advertising have given added attention to women business owners.

Daria Muirhead, Boutique Café’s owner and podcast hostess, is all about helping these women fulfill their dreams. In another effort to do so she recently launched Mompreneur Corner, a new feature on Boutique Café that will showcase featured articles by and for incredible business women. The weekly articles will cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of branding your business to better balancing family and business. Mompreneur Corner will offer readers specific how-to’s from expert panelists in areas such as fabric design, product placement, advertising, stress management, mothering from behind a desk and zeroing in on your passion.

“I have put together a wonderfully talented group of women for our Mompreneur Corner feature. They will quickly become an integral and ongoing part of Boutique Café and I am excited to share their talents and expertise with our audience,” said Daria.

In addition to the new Mompreneur section on Boutique Café, the site is currently showcasing its 2009 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide is packed full of discount codes, free shipping offers and other special promotions. This is fourth installment of the website’s popular holiday shopping guide and is a tremendous draw for readers and advertisers alike (many of whom happen to be work-at-home moms and mompreneurs).

Whether you’re interest is family or business (or holiday shopping), you can find what you’re looking for on Boutique Café.

About Boutique Café

Boutique Café is the world’s first boutique podcast. The site’s weekly shows highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether readers are looking for a new muse, the latest in fashion for children, reviews on must-have products or tips and tricks for women business owners, Boutique Café can help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, the site also supports a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café has experienced great success in its first five years of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show as well as thousands of visitors to the site each day. Visit BoutiqueCafe.com for more information.

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Tomorrow is an exciting one that I’d love to share with all my Boutique Cafe buddies. I’ll be going to an ultrasound in the morning, and hoping to not only see a happy healthy little bundle – but also find out if we are expecting PINK OR BLUE!!

Obviously we’re hoping for PINK since we already have four strapping boys, and I’m severely outnumbered. But we’ll be thrilled either way, a baby is just such a beautiful blessing. So everyone stay tuned, and cross your fingers that our little baby will cooperate with the ultrasound tech and show themselves. LOL!

Cheers and thanks for your support and friendship! – Daria

Yes, it’s true. Nathan and I are expecting baby #5 at the end of December (and yes it was a BIG surprise to us). I’m still trying to wrap my head around the impending big belly, sleepless nights and all of that. After our miscarriage last fall I really thought that I was done, Really I just felt that was it, but this little person has other plans so I’m excited to meet him (or her).

Sadly I’ve been bedridden, hospital prone and severely dehydrated from a pregnancy condition called HyperEmesis Gravidarum. It’s actually quite a series condition, there’s even a website you can check out at http://www.helpher.org which says:

“HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s).”

And it’s all true! I’ve been so sick, weak, tired, and losing weight rapidly. 12 pounds so far! This has caused me to need to pull back on alot of obligations over the past month or so, I’ve just had no choice. Thankfully I have an amazing family who have dropped their lives to rush to my aid and take care of me and my kiddos. I also have my Nathan who has been like a dream hubby, jumping in with both feet and taking care of all things children and housekeeping. I’m lucky to have such a great man, his Mom taught him well. Needless to say that the past 6-8 weeks or so have been trying and really tough to get through…sniff sniff. I’m hoping as I enter my 2nd trimester that my HyperEmesis will let up a bit and allow me to live a more normal existence but HyperEmesis tends to last the entire 9 months for me. In the meantime I spend most of my time in bed, in pjs, and catching up on every show on tv. ugggh! I miss feeling like me.

So that’s my big news, there’s a little baby on the way but I’m not quite in the excited phase right now. I’m more in the bitter, resentful because I’m so ill phase. Maybe some bloggy friends encouragement will give me the boost I need! XOXO - Daria

In her recent article, Charlene shares her personal experience of being our Keynote Speaker at the first Boutique Cafe Girls Getaway Conference we held in 2007 at Salt Lake City. The conference was attended by a wide range of incredibly talented women, and since the event we have seen so many of their businesses and passions take off in a huge way. From clothing designers, to fabric designers, to graphic artists, and so on – many of these ladies are making great strides in their industries. In the article for Greggy Girl Talk, Charlene raves about Boutique Cafe’s ability to bring these ladies together and talks about our Producer and Podcast Guru Daria as well!

Thank you so much Charlene for sharing your experience at our conference with the Greggy Girl family and fans. Having you as our Keynote Speaker was a dream come true! Read the Full Article Here >>

Boutique Café’s Daria Muirhead, who hosts one of the most popular weekly podcasts featuring designers, “mompreneurs,” and even the occasional celebrity, was the hostess with the most exclusive interviews at the Spring 2008 International Quilt Market in Portland, Oregon.

Canada (PRWEB) August 21, 2008—Boutique Café’s Daria Muirhead, who hosts one of the most popular weekly podcasts featuring designers, “mompreneurs,” and even the occasional celebrity, was the hostess with the most exclusive interviews at the Spring 2008 International Quilt Market in Portland, Oregon.

The International Quilt Market is an industry tradeshow that focuses on “the art and the business of quilting.” For vendors and buyers only, the show’s exhibitors offer everything from quilting supplies, machines, patterns and yards and yards and yards of fabric. Daria was on site as the only podcaster with permission to record the event.

The extensive and impressive list of well known and up-and-coming fabric designers interviewed by or Daria include Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry, Anna Maria Horner, Sandi Henderson, Tina Givens, Gina from Quilters Buzz, Jan Lutz of The Apron Lady Designs, Michael Miller Fabrics and the list doesn’t stop there!

While attending Quilt Market, Boutique Café was invited to attend the JCaroline Fabric 2.0 Party where Daria and other Boutique Café members had the opportunity to network and meet with designers, textile artists and media.

A select number of vidcasts from the Spring 2008 International Quilt Market show are already playing and Daria will continue to release more interviews and behind-the-scenes footage over the next couple months. The vidcasts are a perfect way for those who were not able to attend to get a feel for the show and “meet” their favorite designers. They are also a fabulous way win great giveaways (visit BoutiqueCafe.com for details).

Bob Ruggiero, Director of Publications & Public Information for Quilts, Inc., was extremely pleased with Boutique Cafe’s coverage, “I’m (so) happy to have some younger and hipper coverage!” Ruggiero has invited Daria to return to the International Quilt Market show being held this fall in Houston, Texas.

About Boutique Café:
Boutique Café is the world’s first boutique podcast. Our weekly shows feature children’s couture designers and highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether it’s a new muse, shopping for trendy outfits for your tot, or tearing your hair out over organizing your home, Boutique Café can help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, we also support a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café has experienced great success in its first seven months of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show, as well as thousands of visitors to our site each day. Visit BoutiqueCafe.com for more info.

###For press release and info >

In addition to seeing me goof around on Technogeekery, you can also learn valuable information about how to upload and send GINORMOUS files over the internet to those you love, it just might save your life someday. Chassy Cat recommends: You Send It.com as well as, MegaUpload.com.

So come on over, learn something new, and laugh at me (I mean with me!). Remember Boutique Cafe is always looking for video clips from our listeners too, so why not try out Chassy Cat’s suggestions today and send us a little video clippy lovin’? You might just wind up on Boutique Cafe TV!

Watch Daria on Technogeekery>

In my feature on MRHH I share:
-my favorite beauty tip
-What my Mother taught me about beauty and fashion
-my time saving beauty tips
and MUCH more!

Check it out and be sure to bookmark them.

Read and comment on my feature here>>

Read and comment on my feature here>>

None of this would have even been possible without the members of this community. I mean it! I want to thank each of you who have inspired me, supported my efforts, listened to the shows, commented, chatted in our old forum, advertised on the site, attended our Girls Getaway, been featured in interviews and fashion shows, provided giveaways and discounts, sent in feedback , and most of all been a friend to me!! (Sniff sniff)

This is just the beginning, I’m excited for what this could mean for all of the talented momprenuers we support on our site. We have plans to make BC better and better!

Thank you for sharing in the joy with me. I hope you’ll pop by the site tomorrow and leave a comment in our new show when it goes up. Don’t forget to click on my sponsors banner so they know just how active our community really is.

XO!
Daria

This special interview was for members of their forum and featured questions such as:
“What is Boutique Cafe and what inspired you to start it?”
“You recently announced a partnership with Mommycast, could you tell us a little more about what that means for you and Boutique Cafe?”
and
“What did you do before Boutique Cafe?” among others.

To check out the Chick of the Month interview, sign up for Girl-Indie.com and Click here to enjoy >

Thank you to Lisa and Bobbie for the honor of being interviewed on your amazing website for WAHM’s.

We are Thrilled to Announce the Winner of our “Win With Wendy” contest. Congratulations to GINGER!! You have won a full year banner ad spot on Boutique Cafe, in our Market. Thank you to all who participated, we were overwhelmed by the great response. Watch for many more contests in the future.